Supporting-axle for motor-vehicles.



B. D. GRAY.

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Patented Feb. 1,

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SUPPORTING AXLE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 21, 1908. RENEWED JULY 16, 1909.

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Patented Feb. 1, 1919.

B. D GRAY. SUPPORTING AXLE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES. APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, 190B. RENEWED JULY 16, 1909.

ENWENTOW @Zm (L ai Attyn WITNESS -e m tla/ I MW yaw ruTEn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BUDD I). GRAY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR T AMERICAN LOCOMO- TIVE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SUPPORTING-AXLE FOR MOTOR-VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb... f, T910.

Application filed flay 21, 1908, Serial No. 434,013. Renewed July 16, 1909. Serial No. 508,0067.

v To all whom it may concern:

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lie it known that ll, BUDD D. Gear, of Providence, in the county of Providence and Nate of Rhode llsland, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Supporting-Axles for Motor-Vehicles, of which improvement the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a supporting member for the bodies of motor vehicles and the driving mechanism thereof, which shall be of simple and comparatively inexpensive construction, adord proper and suiiicient strength with a minimum of weight, and provide convenient facilities for the supportand inclosure of the driving mechanism.

The improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth.

in the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view, in longitudinal central section, on the line f f of Fig. 2, of a driving axle for motor vehicles illustrating an embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2, a view in longitudinal central section, on the line 9 g of Fig. 1, of the same; Figs. 3 and 4:, transverse sections, on the lines it h and i 2', respectively, of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a-similar section, on the line is of Fig. 1; Fig. 6, a longitudinal, central section, on the line I Z of Fig. 7, through a driving axle illustrating a structural modification; Fig. 7, a similar.

section, on the line at m of Fig. 6; Fig. 8, a transverse section, on the line a a, of Fig. 7 and, Fig. 9, a similar section, taken partly at the middle of the axle and partly on the line 0 0 of Figffi.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, in the practice of my invention, ll provide a driving axle which is continuous from end to end, and consists of a central body, 1, of substantially annular form, the space within which serves as a receptacle for the driving gears, the difi'erential mechanism and its bearings, etc., andtubular end portions, 2, 2, which project oppositely from and 1n line axially with, the body, 1, an serve to case orinclose the sections of the driving member which transmits the power from the difierential to the wheel hubs. The tubular end portions, 2, are formed oftvvo similar sections of pressed steel, which 'inclose a central cast spacer, i fitting Within the body, 1, and bored out on its opposite r sides to receive tubular liners, 2, "which ai'e secured to it byshrinking, brazing, or riveting. The liners, 2 fit within, and project from the outer ends of, the tubular end portions, 2, and bands, 7, shrunk on-the end portions, 2, serve to hold the parts firmly together.- The body, 1, and spacer, 1, are connected by transverse rivets, 8, and after the parts are assembled the edges of the abutting sections of the pressed steel body and end portions are welded together by an acetylene and oxygen flame, or by other suitable means, thereby constituting a con tinuous inclosing and supporting member. llt will be seen that a driving axle of the construction above described may be made of ample strength and of comparatively light weight, and that it conveniently provides all the necessary facilities for the location and inclosure of the driving mechanism. a

As illustrated in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, the central body, 1, and tubular end portions, 2, of the axle, are formed of an integral casting of bronze or other suitable material. The body is made of larger size than in the instance before described and flattened on its sides, as shown in Figsfi and 9, so as toprovide ample space forthe inclosure of the driving mechanism, and merges into the end portions, 2, in elliptical section, as shown in Fig. 8. Tubular liners, 2, are inclosed in the end port-ions, as in the instance last above described, and are fixed, at their inner ends, in sockets, 1", cast'on the ends of the body, no spacer being used in this case, and, at their outer ends, in

body and end portions are preferably cast body, and tubular liners fixed in said supporting members and connected at their inner ends to said spacer.

2. it supporting axle for motor vehicles, comprising a central, annular body adapted .the concentric portion of the casing, 2. The

around the tubular liners, thereby insuring lid for the reception of driving mechanism, a spacer secured within the same, tubular supporting members continuous with and oppositely projecting from said body, and tubular liners secured at their inner ends to said spacer and fitting tightly within said supporting members, from the ends of which they project. r

3. A supporting axle for motor vehicles, comprising a central, annular body adapted for the reception of driving mechanism, tubular supporting members oppositely projecting from said body, an annular spacer secured within said body and having lateral cylindrical projections within said supportingmembers, tubular liners secured at their inner ends to said projections and extending through said supporting members, and

bands shrunk on the outer ends of said supportin members and securing the same 0 to the inc osed tubular liners.

4. A supporting axle for motor vehicles, comprisin an annular spacer having lateral cylindricaprojections, tubular liners secured at their inner ends to said projections, 25 and an inclosing casing, composed of two similar pressed-steel sect1ons welded together comprising a central body surroundin sai spacer and secured thereto, and tu ular members surrounding said liners and secured 30 thereto at their outer ends.

BUDD D. GRAY.

Witnesses:

Gnome E. THURBER, CHARLES A. WALSH. 

